Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 5/16/2007

Question
Please help me!!!
I am really concerned about Hebrews, verse 26 onwards and am very deeply troubled.
You see, I gave my life to Christ and decided to follow him about 3 months ago.
Before this I had been addicted to pornography and masturbation.
Everything as fine and I was so happy and enjoying being in the presence of God until one day I was tempted to go onto a porn website and masturbate.
I fought with the temptation for a few days but then I became weak and gave in.
I feel so guilty and bad about this and wish I hadn't done it, I am even still tempted to do it again even though I know how wrong it is.
I have asked Jesus for forgiveness and have said sorry, - and I really mean it from my heart.
I am really worried, I keep thinking that I have sinned wilfully (because I knew it was wrong but I still did it) after having known the light  , and so there is no more sacrifice for sin for me.
Please help and pray for me if you can, can I be forgiven, am I lost forever??? What Is Hebrews 10 talking about??
Im really afraid.
Alan (21 yrs old - UK).
P.S
I just recently overcame the fear that I had comitted the unpardonable sin and now this has new problem has come along.... I am in a mess right now.

Answer
Hi Alan,
   The passage is talking about going into apostasy, which means turning one's back on the Lord and going into a state of constant sinning.  It is not talking about committing a sin in a moment of weakness.   Further
   1 John 1:8-10 is talking to Christians and says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10)
    All men including Christians have the sin or carnal nature that we constantly battle.   The Christian has the nature of God which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and He helps us to overcome sin in our lives and temptation.
    Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  (1 Corinthians 10:13)    The Holy Spirit gives us a way to overcome temptation, but at times of weakness we all will fail.   
   It does not mean was lose our salvation or that God turns His back on us.  That will never happen.  Once a person becomes a child of God they are given eternal or everlasting life which never will end.   I have an article at http://bible-truth.org/assuran2.html  that explains this biblical truth.    When a person believes in Jesus Christ God forgives all their sins...past, present and future.   Even though that is true...we still have the old nature and we are tempted to sin.   
   Paul in Romans 7:14-25 addresses this problem in his life.   I think if you read this it will help you understand the matter.   
   We all do sin willfully and having our sins forgiven is not an excuse to sin.  We should fight sin aggressively in our lives.  As we yield to Christ we mature and grow in the Lord.  That means we are better able to fight sin and overcome it.  We should never treat sinning lightly and should as 1 John 1:9 says, to confess our sins when we commit them to the Lord and He will help us to overcome them.  
   The guilt you feel comes from the Holy Spirit that is drawing you toward doing what is right and obeying the Lord.   Unsaved people sin, but they are not convicted in their hearts of it.  Only the Christian worries about sinning against God.
   When the temptation comes...and it will....take your Bible and read it.  Also pray and ask God for His strength to overcome the temptation.   If you do fail...immediately confess it to the Lord.
   The older we grow in the Lord the more we are able to fight sin.
   Ephesians 6:10-18 explains how we can prepare ourselves spiritual to resist the devil and temptation.
   I hope this helps. If you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org
Romans 12:1-2